[Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
Hello Sorry if this question has already been answered elsewhere. I built a K2 in 2002 and a Kx1 in 2004. My idea of delight now is a kit of parts and a hot iron. I'd like to have a go at a KX3 if it is a kit, and to suggest that it could be supplied in three forms. !) fully assembled 2) as a kit with the SMDs already assembled, and 3) for those, like me, who are confident with soldering SMDs, with only the components (like BGAs) you can't fix with a soldering iron already in place. I'd love to go for 3) -- any chance? Best wishes all and 73, Harry Weston M1ETU and M0SOP __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
Harry, I would say not a chance of getting your KX3 kit with SMDs in a bag. Just take a look at the support questions that occur with those kits using thru-hole construction, and then imagine the number of support questions that would occur if some of the general ham population tried to assemble an SMD kit. Requests for extra parts because some had been launched into never-never land with tweezers too tightly held would increase the Elecraft mailing expense significantly. I expect the labor required to kit such an assembly would be more than they are paying the board houses for assembled boards. While it might be interesting and fun for a few, it just is not cost effective. 73, Don W3FPR On 6/3/2011 7:15 AM, harry weston wrote: Hello Sorry if this question has already been answered elsewhere. I built a K2 in 2002 and a Kx1 in 2004. My idea of delight now is a kit of parts and a hot iron. I'd like to have a go at a KX3 if it is a kit, and to suggest that it could be supplied in three forms. !) fully assembled 2) as a kit with the SMDs already assembled, and 3) for those, like me, who are confident with soldering SMDs, with only the components (like BGAs) you can't fix with a soldering iron already in place. I'd love to go for 3) -- any chance? Best wishes all and 73, Harry Weston M1ETU and M0SOP __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
Also, note that one of the main advantages to SMT is process control. Parts can be placed and soldered VERY accurately. Hand-soldering SMT, even large components like 2012's is much less well controlled than the design might need to function properly. And some of the KX3 components are in the tiny category (generally 0402 and smaller is too fine to work by hand). 73, matt W6NIA On Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:27:57 -0400, you wrote: Harry, I would say not a chance of getting your KX3 kit with SMDs in a bag. Just take a look at the support questions that occur with those kits using thru-hole construction, and then imagine the number of support questions that would occur if some of the general ham population tried to assemble an SMD kit. Requests for extra parts because some had been launched into never-never land with tweezers too tightly held would increase the Elecraft mailing expense significantly. I expect the labor required to kit such an assembly would be more than they are paying the board houses for assembled boards. While it might be interesting and fun for a few, it just is not cost effective. 73, Don W3FPR On 6/3/2011 7:15 AM, harry weston wrote: Hello Sorry if this question has already been answered elsewhere. I built a K2 in 2002 and a Kx1 in 2004. My idea of delight now is a kit of parts and a hot iron. I'd like to have a go at a KX3 if it is a kit, and to suggest that it could be supplied in three forms. !) fully assembled 2) as a kit with the SMDs already assembled, and 3) for those, like me, who are confident with soldering SMDs, with only the components (like BGAs) you can't fix with a soldering iron already in place. I'd love to go for 3) -- any chance? Best wishes all and 73, Harry Weston M1ETU and M0SOP __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
I would agree with Don. Perhaps, even Elecraft offered a SMD-kit at a price 3 times of the assembled version, it might not be good enough to earn a reasonable business profit in view of the possible manpower involved. Perhaps, only through hole components kits can maintain some profits. TNX 73, Johnny VR2XMC 從︰ Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com 收件人︰ harry weston harrywes...@btinternet.com 副本(CC)︰ elecraft@mailman.qth.net 傳送日期︰ 2011年06月3日 (週五) 9:27 PM 主題︰ Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit? Harry, I would say not a chance of getting your KX3 kit with SMDs in a bag. Just take a look at the support questions that occur with those kits using thru-hole construction, and then imagine the number of support questions that would occur if some of the general ham population tried to assemble an SMD kit. Requests for extra parts because some had been launched into never-never land with tweezers too tightly held would increase the Elecraft mailing expense significantly. I expect the labor required to kit such an assembly would be more than they are paying the board houses for assembled boards. While it might be interesting and fun for a few, it just is not cost effective. 73, Don W3FPR On 6/3/2011 7:15 AM, harry weston wrote: Hello Sorry if this question has already been answered elsewhere. I built a K2 in 2002 and a Kx1 in 2004. My idea of delight now is a kit of parts and a hot iron. I'd like to have a go at a KX3 if it is a kit, and to suggest that it could be supplied in three forms. !) fully assembled 2) as a kit with the SMDs already assembled, and 3) for those, like me, who are confident with soldering SMDs, with only the components (like BGAs) you can't fix with a soldering iron already in place. I'd love to go for 3) -- any chance? Best wishes all and 73, Harry Weston M1ETU and M0SOP __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
Perhaps, even Elecraft offered a SMD-kit at a price 3 times of the assembled version, it might not be good enough to earn a reasonable business profit in view of the possible manpower involved. Perhaps, only through hole components kits can maintain some profits. Another issue is the attrition that occurs when attempting an SMD kit. For this reason, many SMD kits are either not started, or they're abandoned shortly after commencement of construction. I've purchased several SMD kits on the used market where perhaps 5% of the kit is completed, and some have been poorly constructed. In the case of a kit like a KX3 that involves many SMD parts, it would undoubtedly lead to many unfinished kits and some very unhappy customers, most of whom are not good with personal due-diligence. Even though that onus is on the buyer to find what they're up against before the purchase, some people will resent the kit supplier when they're left with a box full of some very expensive parts and few takers who are willing to finish a previously-started kit at a fair price. Paul, W9AC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
Wayne (or maybe it was Eric) already announced that the KX3 would be available as a no-solder final assembly type of kit, or fully assembled, just like the K3. I already have two Softrock receiver kits that I've just about given up on because of multiple problems trying to install surface mount components. Something as complex as a KX3 would have me in tears before I finished unpacking it!! And by the way, if anyone here has experience with Softrock kits and could complete my kits for a modest fee, I'd be interested in hearing from you. 73, Ken Alexander, VE3HLS --- On Fri, 6/3/11, Paul Christensen w...@arrl.net wrote: From: Paul Christensen w...@arrl.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit? To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Friday, June 3, 2011, 11:44 AM Perhaps, even Elecraft offered a SMD-kit at a price 3 times of the assembled version, it might not be good enough to earn a reasonable business profit in view of the possible manpower involved. Perhaps, only through hole components kits can maintain some profits. Another issue is the attrition that occurs when attempting an SMD kit. For this reason, many SMD kits are either not started, or they're abandoned shortly after commencement of construction. I've purchased several SMD kits on the used market where perhaps 5% of the kit is completed, and some have been poorly constructed. In the case of a kit like a KX3 that involves many SMD parts, it would undoubtedly lead to many unfinished kits and some very unhappy customers, most of whom are not good with personal due-diligence. Even though that onus is on the buyer to find what they're up against before the purchase, some people will resent the kit supplier when they're left with a box full of some very expensive parts and few takers who are willing to finish a previously-started kit at a fair price. Paul, W9AC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
As a very small designer and seller of kits, I've been forced to move almost all of my new designs and updated older designs to surface mount construction. Through hole parts are either drying up, and, more importantly, high performance parts are not made in through hole packages. So far, I've been able to keep kits in the reasonable to assemble category by: 1. Passive components 1206 size. 2. Integrated circuits pin spacing 0.05/inch (20 pins per inch) or larger spacing. 3. Transistors SOT-89 where possible These are all manageable without too much in terms of special tools. A good headband magnifier, 0.015 diameter solder and a small tip soldering iron is about it. As a price point, I have some commercial products I sell as assembled, and I can have small quantities of PCBs made, with all surface mount parts machine placed and soldered for only a few dollars more than the price of the parts - it's not far from the point where I wonder whether it makes sense to offer anything more than screwdriver kits where the purchaser does mechanical assembly and perhaps installs a few through hole parts, such as connectors. I've received prices in the $5/board range for machine assembly of only 100 boards, each board with about 100 parts, plus a one-time charge for solder paste stencil. I've hand assembled a few of these boards during prototyping and development, and it takes me about 3 hours. Jack K8ZOA On 6/3/2011 11:44 AM, Paul Christensen wrote: Perhaps, even Elecraft offered a SMD-kit at a price 3 times of the assembled version, it might not be good enough to earn a reasonable business profit in view of the possible manpower involved. Perhaps, only through hole components kits can maintain some profits. Another issue is the attrition that occurs when attempting an SMD kit. For this reason, many SMD kits are either not started, or they're abandoned shortly after commencement of construction. I've purchased several SMD kits on the used market where perhaps 5% of the kit is completed, and some have been poorly constructed. In the case of a kit like a KX3 that involves many SMD parts, it would undoubtedly lead to many unfinished kits and some very unhappy customers, most of whom are not good with personal due-diligence. Even though that onus is on the buyer to find what they're up against before the purchase, some people will resent the kit supplier when they're left with a box full of some very expensive parts and few takers who are willing to finish a previously-started kit at a fair price. Paul, W9AC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
Jack wrote: I wonder whether it makes sense to offer anything more than screwdriver kits where the purchaser does mechanical assembly and perhaps installs a few through hole parts, such as connectors. Indeed. SMD components are specifically designed solely for efficient automated machine assembly. Human part-by-part assembly of SMD circuits is a gross misapplication of the design. A complex SMD kit, lovingly assembled by a skilled builder, would almost certainly *still* be technically inferior to the machine-assembled equivalent. From a circuit quality standpoint there is *nothing* good about human assembly of SMD circuits. At the other extreme, a screwdriver-only semi-kit can easily be the quality of a factory-assembled version. Two extremes...I'll take the latter, and always reject the former. Mike / KK5F __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
On 6/3/2011 10:45 AM, Mike Morrow wrote: At the other extreme, a screwdriver-only semi-kit can easily be the quality of a factory-assembled version. This is especially true if the boards are individually tested prior to shipment, as they are at Elecraft. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
You guys are killing me with this gloomy talk about SMDs. Just last night I ordered a Softrock. From reading the assembly manual I can see that this is a long-tailed project, but I'm determined to remain optimistic. My intention is to use it as an interface for CW Skimmer, taking IF out the back of my P3. We shall see... If I ever get it to work, I'll report back here. Tony KT0NY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
You guys are killing me with this gloomy talk about SMDs. Just last night ... Tony, I recently assembled a NUE-PSK modem. It is pretty much all SMD. It wasn't all that bad to build. I'm 55 years old so my eyes aren't what they used to be. I didn't need any 'exotic' tools, just one of those illuminated headgear type magnifiers, an illuminated 20X loupe (got that sweet baby at American Science Surplus) and a temperature controlled soldering iron -- I have some off brand that I got at Fry's. Search youtube for some videos on how to solder SMD's. The trick is the rosin; it is kind of sticky. You glop up the board with that, stick the part on there. Verify with the loupe. Then ... here's the odd thing: put the solder on the iron then touch the iron on the part's pin/leg whatever. Works like a champ. The videos show you how to fix things like bridging solder where you don't need it. I read some QST article (I think) about how to convert a toaster oven to do mass soldering of SMD parts but that seems like overkill, especially if you're only building one board. Good Luck and 73, Ken K9LEA KX1 K1 ... so far This electronic message contains information from ACTIV Financial Systems, Inc. which may be privileged or confidential. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual(s) or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this electronic message in error, please notify us by telephone or email (to the numbers or address above) immediately. Internet communications are not secure and therefore ACTIV does not accept any legal responsibility for the contents of this message. Although ACTIV operates anti-virus programs, it does not accept responsibility for any damage whatsoever that is caused by viruses that may be passed. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
The KX3 has hundreds of SMDs. Many of them are so small that I need a magnifying glass just to find them. Soldering them by hand is tedious and fraught with peril (all of us on the team do it, but we don't enjoy it). A full kit would be impossible to support and not profitable. Sorry about that. 73, Wayne N6KR On Jun 3, 2011, at 11:25 AM, Tony Estep wrote: You guys are killing me with this gloomy talk about SMDs. Just last night I ordered a Softrock. From reading the assembly manual I can see that this is a long-tailed project, but I'm determined to remain optimistic. My intention is to use it as an interface for CW Skimmer, taking IF out the back of my P3. We shall see... If I ever get it to work, I'll report back here. Tony KT0NY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
Kit and assembled will work exactly alike, just as with a K3. Wayne N6KR On Jun 3, 2011, at 11:03 AM, Jim Brown wrote: On 6/3/2011 10:45 AM, Mike Morrow wrote: At the other extreme, a screwdriver-only semi-kit can easily be the quality of a factory-assembled version. This is especially true if the boards are individually tested prior to shipment, as they are at Elecraft. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
Do you guys do all the SMD soldering by hand? I'd be guessing that the current volumes shipped you guys would've been able to invest in a placement machine. Small ones have been becoming reasonable affordable these days (e.g. small outfits like Adafruit have been using one some their higher volume Arduino kits and accessories). ./Ben On Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 2:03 PM, Wayne Burdick n...@elecraft.com wrote: The KX3 has hundreds of SMDs. Many of them are so small that I need a magnifying glass just to find them. Soldering them by hand is tedious and fraught with peril (all of us on the team do it, but we don't enjoy it). A full kit would be impossible to support and not profitable. Sorry about that. 73, Wayne N6KR On Jun 3, 2011, at 11:25 AM, Tony Estep wrote: You guys are killing me with this gloomy talk about SMDs. Just last night I ordered a Softrock. From reading the assembly manual I can see that this is a long-tailed project, but I'm determined to remain optimistic. My intention is to use it as an interface for CW Skimmer, taking IF out the back of my P3. We shall see... If I ever get it to work, I'll report back here. Tony KT0NY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
All of our SMD soldering is fully automated. Wayne On Jun 3, 2011, at 6:31 PM, ~BG~ wrote: Do you guys do all the SMD soldering by hand? I'd be guessing that the current volumes shipped you guys would've been able to invest in a placement machine. Small ones have been becoming reasonable affordable these days (e.g. small outfits like Adafruit have been using one some their higher volume Arduino kits and accessories). ./Ben On Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 2:03 PM, Wayne Burdick n...@elecraft.com wrote: The KX3 has hundreds of SMDs. Many of them are so small that I need a magnifying glass just to find them. Soldering them by hand is tedious and fraught with peril (all of us on the team do it, but we don't enjoy it). A full kit would be impossible to support and not profitable. Sorry about that. 73, Wayne N6KR On Jun 3, 2011, at 11:25 AM, Tony Estep wrote: You guys are killing me with this gloomy talk about SMDs. Just last night I ordered a Softrock. From reading the assembly manual I can see that this is a long-tailed project, but I'm determined to remain optimistic. My intention is to use it as an interface for CW Skimmer, taking IF out the back of my P3. We shall see... If I ever get it to work, I'll report back here. Tony KT0NY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 going to be sold as a kit?
I should add that all of our leaded-part soldering is automated, too, except when customers do the assembly. Wayne On Jun 3, 2011, at 6:34 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: All of our SMD soldering is fully automated. Wayne On Jun 3, 2011, at 6:31 PM, ~BG~ wrote: Do you guys do all the SMD soldering by hand? I'd be guessing that the current volumes shipped you guys would've been able to invest in a placement machine. Small ones have been becoming reasonable affordable these days (e.g. small outfits like Adafruit have been using one some their higher volume Arduino kits and accessories). ./Ben On Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 2:03 PM, Wayne Burdick n...@elecraft.com wrote: The KX3 has hundreds of SMDs. Many of them are so small that I need a magnifying glass just to find them. Soldering them by hand is tedious and fraught with peril (all of us on the team do it, but we don't enjoy it). A full kit would be impossible to support and not profitable. Sorry about that. 73, Wayne N6KR On Jun 3, 2011, at 11:25 AM, Tony Estep wrote: You guys are killing me with this gloomy talk about SMDs. Just last night I ordered a Softrock. From reading the assembly manual I can see that this is a long-tailed project, but I'm determined to remain optimistic. My intention is to use it as an interface for CW Skimmer, taking IF out the back of my P3. We shall see... If I ever get it to work, I'll report back here. Tony KT0NY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
